Both Ozil and Sanchez are in the final 18 months of their current deals at the Emirates, and boss Arsene Wenger has insisted he will not sell either of his star assets , even if they refuse to put pen to paper.

It's not about the money, insisted Arsene Wenger last week, channeling his inner Jessie J. Sometimes, though, it is. Alexis Sanchez is only the 15th best-paid player in the Premier League as it stands.